Incredible, the least polluting car of 2024 is not electric but combustion
Toyota amazes the automotive sector.
It is the least polluting car model with a combustion engine, even less polluting than electric cars.
If it is true that the electric car seems to be the key to combating warming and climate change, at the moment the car that respects the environment most of all is a hybrid car.
This was revealed in the latest list from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) of the most eco-friendly cars for 2024.
According to the list, which however sees electric cars at the top, the gold medal goes to the Toyota Prius Prime SE plug-in hybrid.
Obviously the issue is more complex than it seems.
Toyota, which however has a plan for the production of electric cars, has decided not yet to give up on non-renewable sources, continuing to create engines that run on diesel and oil, as they are still required by the majority of customers, while trying to reduce CO2 emissions.
But which other cars are the most eco-friendly and which are the worst? Here's everything you need to know about the least polluting car of 2024.
Toyota, the least polluting car of 2024 has a combustion engine While many car manufacturers are converting their production plants, focusing everything on the electric car, Toyota has decided to still use combustion engines rather than electric ones, still obtaining an excellent result for the creation of less polluting cars.
It takes first place as the least polluting car in 2024 with the plug-in hybrid Toyota Prius Prime SE model in the survey conducted by ACEEE, since, as explained by the experts, a car with an internal combustion engine is more respectful of the environment, of an electric motor.
Below is the ranking of the top 12 least polluting models: Toyota Prius Prime SE hybrid; Lexus RZ 300e; Mini Cooper SE; Nissan Leaf; Toyota bZ4X; Toyota RAV4 Prime; Hyundai Elantra Blue Hyundai Kona Electric; Toyota Camry LE; Kia EV6; Toyota Corolla; Hyundai Ioniq 5.
As can be seen from the ranking, in general, electric cars are much more environmentally friendly than diesel and petrol engines.
Toyota has also gained several positions with electric cars.
Equally surprising is to note that there are no Tesla, Mercedes or BMW models in the top 12.
What are the most polluting cars in 2024 It is not surprising to discover that the ranking of cars with the lowest performance for the market is mainly made up of large vehicles that consume petrol, including seven SUVs.
The only exception is the Hummer electric SUV, which weighs almost 4.5 tons.
Below is the ranking with the 12 most polluting models: Mercedes-Benz AMG G63; Ram 1500 TRX 4×4; Ford F150 Raptor R; Cadillac Escalade V; Dodge Durango SRT; Jeep Wrangler 4dr 4×4; Jeep Grand Wagoneer 4×4 Mercedes-Benz G550; GMC Hummer EV SUV; GMC Sierra; Chevrolet Corvette Z06; Mercedes-Benz Maybach S680.
“It is important that automakers continue to rapidly offer affordable electric vehicles,” explains Peter Huether, senior researcher at ACEEE.
The advantages of the electric car are many, explained the researcher, even for the customer whose needs are not met by today's charging infrastructure, many efficient and convenient hybrid options are available today.
Toyota, but is the least polluting 2024 car really eco-sustainable? Although Toyota's hybrid car is the least polluting of 2024, it is necessary to ask ourselves whether this is really eco-sustainable.
If it is true that it is the one that produces the least CO2 emissions, we must ask ourselves whether it really makes sense to continue to fuel a production system that draws on non-renewable sources.
On the other hand, oil resources are not infinite, and it is good to start finding truly eco-sustainable solutions, investing in research for the production of electric cars, which are more efficient and even less polluting.
